15 ACRES OF CRITICAL HABITAT RESTORED
AS PART OF SETTLEMENT FOR TAMPA BAY OIL SPILL

Almost ten years after three ships collided
and spilled oil into Tampa Bay, citizens have regained 15 acres of
wetland and upland habitat at Joe’s Creek along the shores of
Boca Ciega Bay. Federal, state and county officials today declared
the Joe’s Creek site fully restored and an example of the many
restoration projects implemented under the Tampa Bay Oil Spill settlement.

Students from the nearby North Side Christian
High School conducted a demonstration planting to illustrate how natural
vegetation was restored to the area.

"For
years, Pinellas County and managers have been partnering with state
and local agencies to restore sensitive lands," said Pinellas
County Commission Chairman Karen
Williams Seel. "These 15 acres will make a beautiful addition
to this vitally important habitat area along Joe's Creek."

Designed
and co-funded by Pinellas
County and the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD),
the Joe’s Creek restoration is one of many projects being carried
out with funds recovered in 1999 to compensate for environmental harm
caused by the 1993 Tampa Bay oil spill. The recovery was part of an
$8 million settlement of public claims arising from the spill.

“Restoring
this critical wetland habitat not only provides a haven for important
wildlife, but also safeguards the water quality of Tampa Bay,”
said Florida Department of Environmental
Protection Secretary David
B. Struhs. “Because of this partnership effort between federal,
state and local agencies, another natural area of Florida is now better
protected.”

"Joe’s
Creek is one of many restoration projects undertaken by NOAA and its
co-trustees to address the natural resources harmed by this spill
and is truly something to celebrate," said Bill
Hogarth, director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s
National Marine Fisheries Service. "This kind of a cooperative
effort among federal, state and local partners guarantees a healthy
coastal environment for generations to come."

The Joe’s Creek restoration project
was carried out to compensate for injuries to the water column and
sediment caused by the spill. A historical wetland located in upper
Boca Ciega Bay, the area was cleared of debris and invasive plant
species while a nesting area for a bald eagle and existing stands
of slash pine, cabbage palms and live oaks were preserved. Portions
of the land were re-graded to flatten spoil mounds, create additional
upland hammocks and to restore natural tidal flow to lowland marsh
areas. Native upland and wetland vegetation was planted and mangroves
are expected to re-colonize the area over the next several years.
Roughly $132,000 of the Tampa Bay Oil Spill settlement funds plus
an additional $134,000 provided by SWFWMD and $89,000 from Pinellas
County were used for this project which provides valuable habitat
for fish, shellfish, gopher tortoises and waterfowl.

In August 1993 three ships collided near
the entrance of Tampa Bay. The collision released an estimated 330,000
gallons of heavy fuel oil, several thousand gallons of jet fuel, diesel
and gasoline into Tampa Bay, injuring natural resources, including
birds, sea turtles, mangroves, salt marshes, sea grasses, and shellfish
beds. In 1999, the state of Florida, the federal government and the
vessel owners reached a settlement which provided funds to implement
restoration projects for natural resources damaged by the oil spill.

The natural resource trustees also received
$2.5 million to address lost recreational uses of about 13 miles of
beaches in Pinellas County, affected waterways and shellfish beds.
Federal and state agencies sought input from the public on projects
which would address these losses and selected 14 projects which are
now completed or currently underway. Chosen projects include the creation
and upgrade of two fishing piers, eight walkways and dune walkovers,
one boat ramp and a passive beach side park. The trustees anticipate
selecting additional projects soon be selected to restore sand loss
due to response activities.

NOAA’s
National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA
Fisheries) is dedicated to protecting and preserving our nation’s
living marine resources through scientific research, management, enforcement,
and the conservation of marine mammals and other protected marine
species and their habitat.

The
Commerce Department’s
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through
the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events
and providing environmental stewardship of our nation’s coastal
and marine resources.